Scientists Paint Eyes On Cow Butts To Save Both Cows And Lions

Turns out that animals, just like humans, get totally freaked out by an eye contact. So Neil R. Jordan, a conservation biologist at the University of New South Wales in Australia, decided to use this in Botswana, where farmers have to kill lions to protect their cows, as they have no other way to make sure lions won’t touch their cattle. Until now, that is, because scary butt-eyes are a real game-changer!

‘Lions are supreme ambush predators—they rely on stealth… When seen, they lose this element of surprise and abandon their hunt’ Jordan told Vocativ.

‘Let’s paint intimidating eyes on cow butts and we’ll save the lions from extinction!’ is not some crazy idea a naughty kid came up with in a Biology class. It’s something behind the work of Jordan and his team, and is rooted in some of the best research on animal behavior and conservation.

Simple, yet genius. So go butt eyes – good for the farmers, the lions, and the cows!

More info: UNSW (h/t: vocativ)

Turns out that animals, just like humans, get totally freaked out by an eye contact

Image credits: Elsa Lijeholm

So Neil R. Jordan decided to use this in Botswana, where farmers have to kill lions to protect their cows

Image credits: Elsa Lijeholm

Farmers had no other way to make sure lions won’t touch their cattle. Until now, that is!

Image credits: Ben Yexly

‘Lions are supreme ambush predators—they rely on stealth… When seen, they lose this element of surprise and abandon their hunt’

Image credits: Ben Yexly

‘Let’s paint intimidating eyes on cow butts and we’ll save the lions from extinction!’ is not some crazy idea…

Image credits: Neil Jordan

…but something behind the work of Jordan and his team, and rooted in some of the best research on animal behavior